This is so sad… so many of our much loved birds are now endangered. Re-Posted from @btobirds 🚨 70 species of bird are now on the UK Red List, almost twice as many as just 25 years ago. Swift, Dunlin and Greenfinch are among 11 species to have joined the likes of Curlew, Cuckoo and Turtle Dove as top conservation priorities, according to a new report published today. To read it just head to the link in our bio. Birds of Conservation Concern 5 uses data from BTO, RBBP, JNCC and elsewhere to assign 245 species to Green, Amber and Red lists. Factors including the abundance, distribution and international importance of their UK populations are all taken into account. . . . . . . #BoCC5 #birds #birdsofig #birdsofintsgram #ornithology #conservation #wildlife

Today is Remembrance Day for Lost Species, and a chance each year to explore the stories of extinct and critically endangered species, cultures, lifeways, and ecological communities. I thought I would share the story of the Stephens island Wren. Explorations of the island began in the 1870s, led by New Zealand maritime officials a lighthouse installation by the 1890s and several houses had been built. Apparently, a cat, possibly named Tibbles, arrived in 1894 and roamed free. David Lyall one of the lighthouse keeperswas especially keen to study the avifauna of the island. The Stephens Island Wren was more like a mouse. It foraged in logs, underground burrows and boulder piles. It had large feet and a short tail, it ran low to the ground among the shoreline rocks or jumped from branch to branch. It flapped its vestigial wings to help on a long jump. Although wren like it was a member of the endemic New Zealand family Acanthisittidae. One of only three flightless species of songbirds in the world. There were no predators so there was no need to escape or migrate. No one, had recorded seeing the species and when examining a number of carcasses brought in by Tibbles which reminded Lyall of the Rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris), Lyall realised this must be s unique discovery. He removed as much tissue as possible from the specimen so it would dry quickly he created a series of at least 15 specimens which went to ornithologists of the region including Walter Rothschild, Walter Buller, and H. H. Travers. On March 16, 1895, the Christchurch newspaper reported, “the bird is no longer to be found on the island, now extinct. Stephens Island Wren In 1899 the new lighthouse keeper shot more than 100 feral cats in ten months to return the island to its pre-feline state. It took 26 years, but by 1925 the island was declared finally free of cats. Painted from a photograph of a stuffed specimen. Visit @lostspeciesday to find out more. #redlisted #endangeredspecies #lostspecies #lostspeciesday #LostSpeciesDay2021 #saveourplanet #decolonise #extinction #ecology #interdependence #endangered #speciesloss #biodiversity #stephensislandwren

Exhibition at the Old Coastguards in Mousehole until 4th January :)

Sky tonight mostly missed due to cold fingers!

What do you think of these, I decided to print some of these little gull chicks onto some text… I rather like text as a background…it adds something and I suppose the choice of text could lead the narrative also Herring gulls are just adorable at this stage of life in their first few fluffy days already moving around and very inquisitive already falling off roofs and getting into trouble. This particular print is available from @cornwall_crafts at @nttrelissick which is a wonderful place for locally handmade gifts if you are in Cornwall #linoprunt #get_imprinted #ukprintmakers #oneofforiginal #oneofakind #herringgull #redlistedbird #seabird #birdwatching #conservation #britishconservation #nature #linocut #gullprint #contemporarylinoprint #contemporaryprjntmaking #printmakingtoday #printmaking #cutelinoprint

Meet the maker for coffee, cake and conversation this Saturday 20th at 10.30 am at the Old Coastguards

Meet the maker/artist for coffee cake and conversation this Saturday 20th at 10.30 am 😊

One of the birds from the Language of Birds series, currently exhibited at the Old Coastguards, inspired by my experience of seeing gulls in the wild against a backdrop of our busy world… The poem which seems appropriate references Eigr (King Arthur’s mother Igraine), Myrddin (Merlin) and Taliesin. Yr Wylan (The Seagull) A fine gull on the tideflow, All white with moon or snow, Your beauty’s immaculate, Shard like the sun, brine’s gauntlet. Buoyant you’re on the deep flood, A proud swift bird of fishfood. You’d ride at anchor with me, Hand in hand there, sea lily. Like a letter, a bright earnest, A nun you’re on the tide’s crest. Right fame and far my dear has – Oh, fly around tower and fortress, Look if you can’t see, seagull, One bright as Eigr on that wall. Say all my words together. Let her choose me. Go to her. If she’s alone – though profit With so rare a girl needs wit Greet her then: her servant, say, Must, without her, die straightway. She guards my life so wholly Ah friends, none prettier than she Taliesin or the flattering lip Or Merlin loved in courtship: Cypris courted ‘neath copper, Loveliness too perfect-fair Seagull, if that cheek you see, Christendom’s purest beauty, Bring to me back fair welcome Or that girl must be my doom. . By Dafydd ap Gwilym (1340-70) Ceredigion, translated by Tony Conran You can see more of my paintings on my website or by visiting the exhibition, no appointment necessary, or you can join me on Saturday morning to look more closely at the paintings in situ. https://ift.tt/2YE5bO9 links in bio. #gullart #herringgull #herringgullpainting #contemporarywildlifepainting #gullart #lovegulls #larus #gullpoem #wildlifepoetry #naturepoetry

For Everyone who loves Desmond and may want a Desmond of their own to look at and bring joy everyday. I have good NEWS! I have decided to make a print of one of my favourite paintings of him… this I think is just Desmond at his best decorated with Brambles and looking very proud of himself! I think he should be on a mug too but I maybe it should have a caption… something along the lines of “I may not be perfect but I am always me” ? what do you think? can you make any caption suggestions… I am better with pictures than words! You can find them on my website together with a few other Sheep and goats all a bit quirky and all with lots of personality! I am working on one of Walter, Luna & Olga https://ift.tt/2rLrh18 links in bio #sheepprints #sheepofinstagram #lovemysheep #onthefarm #sheepart #sheepgift